Former Stig, Ben Collins, on that Top Gear crash, Grand Tour & being Vin Diesel 

I'm sorry that I interrupt Ben a few times in this interview. It was my first ever one and I was quite nervous. I'll know better for next time!

Fake. Everyone knows if you are chosen to be “The Stig” your vocal chords are removed

Some say his autobiography audiobook consists entirely of Darth Vader breaths, and that his vocal chords are tuned to B flat. All we know is...HE'S CALLED THE STIG!

fiction? "he's not the Stig, but he is the Stig's Novelist Cousin..."

audio book voiced by Stig *silence intensifies*

0:00 hello, bla bla, book, bla bla... 4:36 Top Gear, Crash, Stig... 8:30 injurys... 9:22 Fixing Cars?... 9:36 Favourite Track?... 9:50 Video Game... 10:55 Future Stuff...

This isn't the stig...its the stigs speaking cousin Edit: 1k likes ? cheers

grand tour needs a needs a new track and "The Ben Collins"

Collins' role as the Stig was about way more than just doing timed laps and driving the celebrities around. In his book "man in the white suit" Collins told that when the idea of the Jet-car came up he went "That has to be Hammond to do it." because Collins knew that of all three Hammond is the fittest and because of the immense forces that come with driving a jet car, being in peak condition was the number one thing. Collins then asked about Hammond's racing gear and then hooked Hammond up with Alpine suits, because as the Stig Collins knew about those suits, was endorsed by them and was familiar with how tough they are. So if you look at the footage of the crash, you see Hammond in a very similar racing suit that Collins wore as the Stig. In fact, it was those recommendations which saved Hammond's life. The fact that Hammond is in peak physical shape and that he was wearing the suit and Helmet that Collins said he should wear, was what saved him.

*koenigsegg eating tire*

But you didn't ask about his 17 kids! Jeremy: "Some say after bying Pirelli condoms last week, he now has 17 children"

I also think that "The American" is a weak part of GT. In fact, I'd hit the mute button whist he's on if I weren't interested in the engine note!

I miss the stig

nice to see the stig himself on this show. Keep up the good work!

Wow this was really great.

Good interview. Very interesting guy....... "but we call him - the Stig!"

My favorite Stig moment: Stig is on a floatie recliner in the pool at Ascari Resort. Stig Chick, wearing nothing but a bikini, Stig helmet and a smile climbs out of pool in the background. They just don't make 'em like they used to.

Ben Collins is great. the Grand Tour would be great with him as a driver and a proper track.

Why does the intervier try to talk more than the interviewee?

Thanks for doing this interview!!!!

when they had Ben Collins drive around the track without his helmet, it really seemed how much he actually acts like the stig, from the head movements and twitches,...

The stig is no man hes a deity of driving infact i think he actually has wings.. What a driver amazing

I enjoyed the interview, I hope this is the first of many.. Looking forward to the audible version of Ben's book.

Checked out the Stigs favorite race track! Thanks for the friendly natural style interview.

I would also have wished to have "the Ben Collins" on GT (as they suggested in the prequel), but I had read that Amazon required the driver to be American in order of appealing to US viewers. Definitely not the right choice... I am absolutely sure "the American" is an excellent driver, but I always hit mute when I watch an episode for the 2nd time and onward. To be fair, I assume his comments are scripted, but the persona they give him is totally overboard.

Really enjoyed this interview - I found the questions you asked really drove up the quality of the content from this episode. p.s. although I love the Stig; I wouldn't want him "driving the wheels off" my e92 - keep up the good work!

what an absolute legend of a man, awesome interview.

Read "How to Drive" 2-3 times while I was working in my driving licence. One more time just after passing and recently again. In sure I will be coming back to it many times again, being a responsible driver, learning to become a really good one. It's funny, to the point, full of invaluable information that stays in memory and pop up in your head while you drive. Absolutely recommended!

So he... Was me?

Really enjoyed that, he's very intelligent and articulate, I could listen to his anecdotes and tales all day long. well produced and edited video , really enjoying your channel, looking to buy an e92 m3 soon, that was my initial draw , lots of very interesting features and above all a likeable personality unlike some of the other car youtubers out there , many thanks and keep up the good work.

Tip, when the person you're interviewing starts giving you an answer DON'T INTERRUPT!!!!!!!!

Loved Ben as The Stig - for me - he was the best thing on TG - great teacher, brilliant character - wish Clarkson, Hammond and May would have had the humility to recruit Ben for their new show. He will always be THE Stig. All the best Ben...

Great video! Thanks for this

Thank you so much for this great interview with Ben Collin there were things that I didn't knew about him ,but there is something that I wished that he would talked was why he was only for one season of fifth gear? anyway it was a great video loved it.

The stig helped develop one of the best racing simulators. I was completely unaware😳👍

First time I seen your channel. Cool video, really enjoyed it

Really impressed with the content you're putting out for a small channel. Can tell a lot of work goes into it.

Love Project Cars 2 in VR love how the Stig helped with the handling !!! So cool 😎

What a driver, so under rated. A master in his art.👍

Ben Collins can drive anything! He's incredible!

When you realise that Ben Collins was on multiple top gear features aaaasss Ben Collins including the Aygo vs aygo car soccer

This was a really good interview vid! Never seem to enjoy them, but this was cool :)

Awesome interview, very well done.

That Would be epic to have Ben as the driver on TheGrandTour. He is an amazing driver/stuntman!

I Flipped through the book, Very Interesting reading....Not all about driving but Driving Survival, Knowing How to break windows with a head rest spike. Very cool. I will Buy Bens Book And this Guy is a Specialist...."Big Time" Ex SAS driving instructor... Cheers Ben...

I loved the Stig, such a great character.

Great, really liking this channel, different from the other buy wrap and chav exhaust channels.

Great now i cant wait for project cars 2. thanks Ben...

great video. thank you for making it

Perks of the channel, eh? Very cool. As always with the channel's vids, equal parts cool car content and vicarious delight.

Great interview. I could listen to you guys talk for hours. I bet he has a lot more stories to tell. Good one mate 👍.

Don't worry Ben sir. You will still be the best and one and only Stig in our heart.

Great interview buddy! Spot on 👍

I miss the old top gear😔

It TRULY takes a special individual to do what he did... They are quite an eccentric breed

I think Tanner Foust should be the new Stig if they bring it back. That man can drive just about anything

Anyone else see him look like the bloke who played Chandler from 'Friends'???

He also works on the Project Cars games... nice!

Ace! Collins is the man! So much insight in his book. I may yet graduate to being a legitimate driver

We never stop learning

The car took the sentence eat my rubber to another level XD

He came over really well, he's been a bit awkward in the past but I think he was very entertaining in this interview. He has some really good stories, we didn't even open the pan let alone, skim the surface. I'll defiantly have a read of his book, he seems like a nice bloke and you can't get better than that.

I cant remember what car he was driving but on one episode of Top Gear he sat and waited for Jeremy to give him his time and before Jeremy could finish The Stig just stood up and walked away. That was fantastic!

“Thanks for bringing it up”

I met Ben for my birthday a couple of years ago, my dad knew him from the army. I didn’t know who he was until he got fired from top gear and my father told me

Nice interview , I even subscribed !

vin should channel ben tbf, ONE HELL of a driver, massive experience in all different disciplines, vastly experienced would love to talk to him just about cars and racing he interviews so well as well, very well spoken, I always wonder with Ben Collins how the hell didn't he make F1?? he's done testing for them but if he wasn't good enough then there is something wrong somewhere.

Ben Collins, What an awfully nice chap!.......

good interview I've read his book The man in the white suit good read I recommend it

0:27 You're about to hear the Stig's voice for the first time! I'm still thinking if I should do it lol

I knew Ben was The Stig a lot longer than some. He was kind enough to send me an 'official; Top Gear cap and christened me the "Wheelchair Stig!" Nice fellow.

Interesting chat, nice one.

Id listen to the audio book, does it come with pictures?

What a great mate

Ben would make an excellent addition to The Grand Tour!

He drove in "Tog gear" good stuff guys lol. That description.

I"ll get the audible book then! perfect.

When I saw the thumbnail I could hear Jeremy Clarksons say: "My god he's torn off his face and is holding it in his hands!"

BROOOOOO CROCODILE DON DEE FIRST TIME ON ELEVATOR IS THE PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF THE STIG. NO WONDER I LAUGHED SO HARD WHEN HE HAD TO TAKE NORMAL TRANSPORT BUS/TRAIN IN THE RACE CHALLENGE.

some say he eats tires for breakfast , and his manhood is s spark plug... all we know he's way better than Abby from the grand tour

what a nice man ben and yes Oulton park

imagine the memories he has with cars being the stig!

Doesn't Ben look a bit like Matt Perry/Chandler B., from 'Friends'?

You are both car guys! There's no need to ask if any crash or injury would scare, or keep him... or any race nut out of the car! Great chit chat! Nice work.

Interrupted a few times? It felt non stop, I wanted to throw my toys at the screen. Anyway, all credit due for acknowledging that. perhaps a second interview at some later date.

Real talk pure 100%

Items added to Christmas list. "How to drive", project cars 1 & 2 lol

Am audio book in Ben Collins voice would be an absolute delight

"Yeah, thanks for bringing it up" (shoots daggers from eyes)

they should put ben collins on an a section of celebrity showdown on the grand tour. that would be fun.

sorry for what you gone through in Romania. 😞

I thought it was brilliant for the pub transport race. Priceless. Of course with the feeling of not knowing who it was added to it.

I love how he appeared in grand tour episode haunting jeremy in usa... 😂😂😂😂

Cant believe he is Stig🔥

“Some say that the outline of his left nipple is exactly the same shape as the Nurburgring." That is of course a nod to Sabine. RIP darling.

Some say he is called the sacked stig. All we know he's called BEN COLLINS

Damn The Stig is missed on the grand tour

Nice one!

WOW! The Stig revealed!

Its him, the man, the myth, the legend, the stig